Fundación CBD-Hábitat

Protecting threatened species

Fundación para la Conservación de la Biodiversidad (CBD-Hábitat) is a Madrid-based nonprofit established in 1998. It focuses on conserving threatened species, particularly the Mediterranean monk seal, Iberian lynx, and large birds of prey such as the Spanish imperial eagle and cinereous vulture. Its field projects operate in Spain, Europe, and West Africa.

Species and habitats

• Mediterranean monk seal
• Iberian lynx
• Large birds of prey

Projects and locations

In the Iberian Peninsula, the foundation has six projects in Andalusia and Extremadura, three in Castile and León, and one each in Catalonia and Aragon, supported by nine field specialists. Internationally, it runs 11 projects in Mauritania and 22 in Guinea-Bissau, with 14 specialists from different countries. In Guinea-Bissau, it also manages Orango Parque Hotel, a tourist property that serves as a base for cooperation projects in the Bijagós Islands.

Reported results

The foundation reports the following results:

• The Iberian lynx population increased from fewer than 100 in 2001 to more than 1,000 counted.
• The Mediterranean monk seal colony under its protection grew from 100 to more than 350 over 20 years, with births increasing by more than 300%.
• Both species moved from “critically endangered” to “endangered” status.
• Since 1998, the foundation has signed agreements with more than 36 private landowners, covering about 65,000 hectares, to protect lynx populations in Andalusia, Extremadura, and Castile-La Mancha.

Recognition

Fundación BBVA gave the foundation its 2022 Biodiversity Conservation Award.

Team

Its team includes more than 65 scientific professionals. Founder and president Javier Oría Marín is a forest engineer; vice president Jesús Garzón is an expert on threatened wildlife; director general Nuria El Khadir Palomo is a biologist; and Pablo Fernández de Larrinoa leads the projects in Africa.

Contact

Address: 13 C. Ángel Hernández, 28002 Madrid, Spain. Tax ID: G82118480. Email: cbd-habitat@cbd-habitat.com.